In their first year under manager Billy Martin, the Oakland A’s had a new emphasis on aggressive baserunning. Of course, having a full season of Rickey Henderson helped, but the A’s would ultimately go from 104 steals in 1979 to 175 in 1980. This new emphasis was apparent on a Wednesday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum, … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 28
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 27
In just his third game back from a finger injury, Amos Otis drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, lifting the Royals to a 4-2 win over the Athletics on a Tuesday night at Oakland Coliseum. Otis ruptured a tendon in a finger on his right hand while taking batting practice near the … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 27
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 26
Oakland’s Matt Keough held the Royals to three hits, as the Athletics snapped Kansas City’s four-game winning streak with a 4-1 win on Memorial Day at the Oakland Coliseum. Just four days earlier in Kansas City, the Royals had tagged Keough for nine hits and seven runs in 3 ⅓ innings. But on this day, … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 26
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 25
It took them a little while to get going, but the Royals eventually found their offensive stride, with consecutive big innings in a 7-3 win over the California Angels on a Sunday afternoon at Anaheim Stadium. Angels starter Dave LaRoche, normally a relief pitcher but pressed into service because of a rash of injuries in … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 25
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 24
After coughing up a four-run lead (albeit with some controversy), the Royals scored in the top of the 10th to take a 6-5 win over the California Angels on a Saturday night at Anaheim Stadium. Royals starter Rich Gale took the mound for the eighth inning with a 5-1 lead. He had pitched well, holding … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 24
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 23
After a players’ strike was averted several hours past the strike deadline and in the early hours of the morning, the Royals had to scramble to make it to Los Angeles for their series against the California Angels. You’d never know the team had been traveling the same day they played, as they scored 10 … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 23
With the threat of a players’ strike looming, the Royals thrashed the Oakland A’s, 16-3, in a Thursday night game at Royals Stadium, a game many of the players expected to be their last for a while. The strike deadline was set for 12:01 AM as negotiators continued to strive for a settlement on a … Continue reading
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 21
A ninth-inning rally tied the game for the Royals, but they ultimately lost to Oakland, 4-2, in 14 innings on a Wednesday night at Royals Stadium. Just like they did two nights earlier, the Royals came to the plate in the ninth down to their last three outs and facing a multiple-run deficit, this time … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 21
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 20
In a terrific pitchers’ duel, the Royals slipped past the Oakland A’s and the American League’s best pitcher to this point in the season, taking a 1-0 win on a Tuesday night at Royals Stadium. Athletics starter Mike Norris came into the game with a 5-1 record and a sparkling 0.45 ERA for the season. … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 20
This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 19
A dramatic ninth-inning rally set up a walkoff win in the 11th inning for the Royals, who slipped past Oakland 6-5 on a Monday night at Royals Stadium. After taking a 2-0 lead in the first, the Royals were held to two hits by A’s starter Steve McCatty and reliever Bob Lacey until the ninth … Continue reading This Date In Royals History–1980 Edition: May 19
